LONDON (AP) - Samir Nasri will play on the wing for Arsenal this season, but manager Arsene Wenger won't tie the French international to the left or right side of midfield.
"I've spoken with Arsene Wenger and I'm going to play on the wing, because that's where the playmakers evolve, overlapping with the fullbacks," Nasri told French sports daily L'Equipe. "That system suits me, I played that way for four years with the French youth team and at the last European Championship. Either on the left or the right, it hasn't been defined yet."
If Nasri does play on both flanks, he will emulate Robert Pires who, like Nasri, joined the Gunners from Marseilles.
Pires took time to adapt to the English game when he joined Arsenal in 2000, but went on to become one of the club's greatest players, playing on the left and right wing.
Nasri acknowledged that he will have to adjust to the demands of the English game.
"When you see how the game is played in England, I'm going to have to improve physically and in the air, but also in terms of intensity and consistency," he said.
The 21-year-old Nasri said he was spellbound by Arsenal last season, despite the club failing to win a title for a third consecutive campaign.
"I love the game, I am passionate about it and Arsenal's football culture makes me dream," Nasri said. "Last season, I got so excited when I watched their matches. It's this culture, this way of playing the game that, for me, represents the best of what football should be."
Nasri experienced the harsher side of football during Euro 2008. Just 18 minutes after replacing the injured Franck Ribery during France's 2-0 defeat to Italy, Nasri was substituted after Eric Abidal was sent off.
Yet he refused to join in the chorus of criticism aimed at France coach Raymond Domenech, claiming the players were to blame for the team's first-round exit.
"We didn't rise to the occasion," he said. "I hope what happened serves as a lesson for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and that we don't make the same mistakes. In any case, I've said and I maintain that the coach shouldn't be blamed."
Arsenal, which is currently on a preseason tour of Austria, will play a Champions League qualifier on Aug. 12.
"I've spoken with Arsene Wenger and I'm going to play on the wing, because that's where the playmakers evolve, overlapping with the fullbacks," Nasri told French sports daily L'Equipe. "That system suits me, I played that way for four years with the French youth team and at the last European Championship. Either on the left or the right, it hasn't been defined yet."
If Nasri does play on both flanks, he will emulate Robert Pires who, like Nasri, joined the Gunners from Marseilles.
Pires took time to adapt to the English game when he joined Arsenal in 2000, but went on to become one of the club's greatest players, playing on the left and right wing.
Nasri acknowledged that he will have to adjust to the demands of the English game.
"When you see how the game is played in England, I'm going to have to improve physically and in the air, but also in terms of intensity and consistency," he said.
The 21-year-old Nasri said he was spellbound by Arsenal last season, despite the club failing to win a title for a third consecutive campaign.
"I love the game, I am passionate about it and Arsenal's football culture makes me dream," Nasri said. "Last season, I got so excited when I watched their matches. It's this culture, this way of playing the game that, for me, represents the best of what football should be."
Nasri experienced the harsher side of football during Euro 2008. Just 18 minutes after replacing the injured Franck Ribery during France's 2-0 defeat to Italy, Nasri was substituted after Eric Abidal was sent off.
Yet he refused to join in the chorus of criticism aimed at France coach Raymond Domenech, claiming the players were to blame for the team's first-round exit.
"We didn't rise to the occasion," he said. "I hope what happened serves as a lesson for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and that we don't make the same mistakes. In any case, I've said and I maintain that the coach shouldn't be blamed."
Arsenal, which is currently on a preseason tour of Austria, will play a Champions League qualifier on Aug. 12.